Dr. Carole Myers
Welcome to HealthConnections, the show about people, health, and policy. I'm Dr. Carole Myers. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Phoebe Tran, an assistant professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Public Health, to discuss cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a structured program designed to promote lifestyle changes to improve cardiovascular health following a heart attack, heart failure, certain cardiac procedures, and heart surgery. Today's focus is on success in making and sustaining lifestyle changes. Welcome, Dr. Tran.
Dr. Phoebe Tran
Thanks so much, Dr. Myers.
Please say more about cardiac rehab. I understand it's a beginning and not an end.
It's really a program that's offered to people who have heart disease or they're coming out of the hospital after some kind of heart surgery, and it helps them to start picking up healthy habits. So, whether that's learning to eat a little bit more healthy, incorporating exercise in their daily routines - it starts to get people more comfortable with that, and because it's a program that there is a beginning and a start once people leave. We really want them to maintain those habits that they start in cardiac rehab.
I also know, in part, because of being a nurse, that the home environment is very important in sustaining lifestyle modifications.
When people, after cardiac rehab, they come home, they lose some of the support in the community that they kind of gain during the programs. Things such as everyday stresses, returning to work, and some of the time crunches that come with that can make it challenging for people to think about putting together a healthy meal. Or, even going outside to go on a walk, and if there's, they don't receive those support from a family member or caregivers, it can be a little bit challenging for them to continue some of these healthy habits.
Are there changes that need to be made in the routine of the home or the people living in the home that will help support the person?
There are many different ways that family members and caregivers can help people after they leave cardiac rehab. So, some of the things include just joining some of the people on walks or helping them put together a healthy meal. Or, having a conversation, checking in with them about what does it mean to stick to your exercise routine. Some of the other things that they can help with are helping them download apps, so there's lots of mobile apps these days for cardiac rehab after they finish for them to kind of track their steps. And family members and caregivers can also connect people with local resources in Tennessee. So, there's community organizations offering kind of walking groups and support groups. So, these are all things that family members and caregivers can help with.
Any other parting words on what can be done to have the positive changes that come out of a cardiac rehab program persist once the program is over.
So, I think it's a combination of having that conversation with family members and caregivers about the importance of helping cardiac rehab patients continue these healthy habits, tapping into the community resources that are available, And, also using some of the technology to help people turn those short-term changes that they might have picked up into lasting overall well-being.
